Allsop Lumber Co. v. Continental Casualty Co.

385 P.2d 625, 73 N.M. 64
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 7, 1963
Docket7259
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 385 P.2d 625 (Allsop Lumber Co. v. Continental Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allsop Lumber Co. v. Continental Casualty Co., 385 P.2d 625, 73 N.M. 64 (N.M. 1963).

Opinion

MOISE, Justice.

■ The appellants are D & L Construction Co. & Associates,' the “eligible builder,” hereinafter referred to as “D & L” and Continental Casualty Company, the bonding company surety on the payment bond given to guarantee payment for labor and materials furnished in connection with construction of housing at White Sands Missile Range, pursuant to a contract entered into under authority of the Capehart Act (August 11, 1955, c. 783, Title IV, § 403, 69 Stat. 651; August 7, 1956, c. 1029, Title V, §§ 506(b)-(d), 507, 70 Stat. 1110; 42 U.S.C.A. § 1594).

Allsop Lumber Company, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Allsop” or “appellee,” is a lumber supplier who, pursuant to written contract with D & L supplied lumber and materials for which it claims it was not paid.

Without detailing the dealings between the parties, it appears that D & L, as principals, and Continental,' the bonding company, as surety, entered into two payment bonds. The bonds were furnished to meet the requirements of 42 U.S.C.A. § 1594, and were on form FHA 2452CP, with Housing V, Inc., on one and Housing VI,' Inc., on the other, as “mortgagor-Builders,” and The National Commercial Bank & Trust Company of Albany, as “Mortgagee,” were the obligees. (It is noted that the second page on one of the bonds, as shown by the exhibit thereof, admitted in evidence, appears to be from a “performance” bond, rather than a “payment” bond. However, since the court found and the parties do not contend otherwise, we assume this to be an error in the exhibit, and that in fact the bonds were identical payment bonds, both containing the provisions of paragraph 4, quoted post.) Each of the bonds provided that it secured any one “having a direct contract with the Princiwho has .furnished * * * in the prosecution of the works provided for in the contract, and who has not been paid in full therefor.” The bond provided for direct right of action by a claimant, subject to certain conditions of which the following are material to our case: pal [¶] & L] * * * * * * material

“2. The above named Principal and Surety hereby jointly and severally agree with the Obligees that every claimant as herein defined, who has not been paid in full before the expiration of a period of ninety (90) days after the date on which the last of such claimant’s work or labor was done or performed or materials were furnished by such claimant or-before the expiration of the period provided by the law of the place where the project is located for the giving of first notice of a lien of the category claimed by claimant, whichever period be longer, may. sue on this bond for the use of such claimant in the name of either of the Obligees or their assignee hereunder, or in the name of the claimant, prosecute the suit .to final judgment for such sum or sums as may be justly due claimant, and have execution thereon; provided, however, that the Obligees or their assignee hereunder shall not be liable for the payment of any costs or expenses of any such suit.
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“4. No suit or action shall be commenced hereunder by any claimant:
“(a) Unless claimant shall have given written notice to any two of the following: The Principal, any one of the Obligees, or the Surety above named, before the expiration of the period referred to in condition 2 above, stating with substantial accuracy the amount claimed and the name of the party to whom the materials were furnished, or for whom the work or labor was done or performed. Such notice shall be served by mailing the same by registered mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to the Principal, any one of the Obligees, or Surety, at any place where an office is regularly maintained by the addressee for the transaction of business, or served in any manner in which legal process may be served in the place in which the aforesaid project is located, save that such service need not be made by a public officer. For the purpose of this condition 4(a), either the giving of notice, or the filing of lien, in accordance with the pertinent lien law of the place where the project is located is a sufficient notice hereunder.
******
“(c) Other than in a State court of competent jurisdiction in and for the county or other political subdivision of the State in which the project, or any part thereof, is situated, or in the United States District Court for the district in which the project, or any part thereof, is situated and not elsewhere.”

Suit was filed in three counts: alleging in the first count a balance of $61,565.35 unpaid for materials furnished to D & L for use in performance of its contract and seeking payment under the bond; alleging in the second count that a mechanics lien had been filed and seeking its foreclosure; and in a third count seeking damages and interest because of failure to pay according to contract.

After trial to the court, judgment was entered in favor of plaintiff against D & L and Continental for $61,565.35, without interest, and providing that if the amount of the judgment was not paid within 30 days the materialman’s lien sued on should be foreclosed and “all right, title and leasehold interest of Housing V, Inc., and Housing VI, Inc., in all land and improvements described in the lien be foreclosed and sold to satisfy the judgment, plus $2.75 recording fee and $255.00 attorney fee for preparing and filing the lien. The 30-day period was extended in the event an appeal was taken and supersedeas bond filed, which was done. The plaintiffs, in turn, filed a cross-appeal complaining of the court’s failure to grant interest as prayed in their third cause of action.

D & L and Continental here argue eight points which they rely on for reversal.

They first assert that jurisdiction is exclusively in the federal courts under the provisions of the Miller Act (August 24, 1935, c. 642, § 1, 49 Stat. 793, 40 U.S.C.A. § 270a) which clearly provides that every suit thereunder “shall be brought * * * in the United States District Court * * * and not elsewhere,” and quote from Lasley v. United Spates (5 C.A., 1960) 285 F.2d 98, in support of their position. We are satisfied that the correct rule is as stated in United States for Use and Benefit of Miles Lumber Co. v. Harrison and Grimshaw Construction Company (10 C.A.1962) 305 F.2d 363, and Continental Casualty Company v. United States (8 C.A.1962) 305 F.2d 794. Both of these cases clearly hold that a Capehart bond and suits thereon are not actions on a Miller Act bond, and that the jurisdictional provision noted above is not applicable. Also, as pointed out in United States v. Harrison and Grimshaw Construction Company, supra, we do not perceive any real conflict between what was there held and the result in Lasley v. United States, supra.

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Bluebook (online)
385 P.2d 625, 73 N.M. 64, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allsop-lumber-co-v-continental-casualty-co-nm-1963.